AUSTIN, Texas, November 12, 2005 — Lots of things I should have done. Very little I did do.

At one time, I thought I might get up early, shower and get a haircut. I didn't get up early. When I got up I stripped the bed and put the sheets in the laundry.

Then I sat at my computer, writing to my niece, thinking about my family in Colorado, thinking about holidays. I ended up shopping online. (Boring, really...a replacement remote for FFP's Bose radio and some other boring stuff.) But I looked at a lot of online shopping. And suddenly, it was after ten. I hadn't put the sheets in the

dryer, gone to work out, done anything useful. Oh. Well.

At least get a workout, I told myself. This is often the case on the days when I'm being worthless. I challenge myself to at least get some exercise. And that is, indeed, all I accomplish. When I didn't work, if I was useless on Saturday my excuse was that I'd worked all week. The work I did was hard to quantify, of course. Or qualify either.

So I went to the gym. I did fifty minutes on the recumbent bike happily reading about competition for gadgets like Blackberries, strategies for investing, Frankie Valli and world affairs in newspapers, some of which were ten days old. I did a few lunges and some ab exercises. I briefly thought when I left the club that I'd go home and shower and try to get a haircut. But my low fuel warning light was on and by the time I'd filled up at a gas station on Medical Parkway, it was close to closing at the barber shop so I decided that I'd put it off until next week. I am so worthless. Retired and can't make time for a haircut.

I kind of expected to hear from friends about seeing them this weekend although we have evening events. Maybe a brunch or something I'd suggested. I always feel on edge when there is an unformed plan like that. But they don't call. I relax and enjoy being useless.

I managed to get the sheets in the dryer, get clean sheets on the bed, organize some things for the holidays, eat some nachos, get a shower, read some newspapers, watch UT start ultra-strong against Kansas. They it was time for a friend to show up to go meet other people and go out.

We were going south but figured that it was no problem. The crowd would still be in the stadium. We were headed to some friends' house in Onion Creek. However, we got tied up in traffic as we drove by the stadium (on IH35) and saw the sea of orange in the stands. Fans leaving because it was a blow-out? No, we saw three vehicles that had merged in a real sense. We had a drink at our friends' place and headed to Buda. Yes, on the once sleepy grim 'downtown' street of Buda is Little Texas Bistro, a restaurant of star quality in an unlikely location. The chef is CIA-trained, though, so one shouldn't be surprised to find a delightful sweetbreads appetizer where the delicate organs are surrounded with a perfect crispy coat and lamb chops perfectly cooked and garnished. Great conversation ensued. I sipped a bit of wine and then some coffee and a beautiful pear dessert. (I wish I hadn't eaten the ice cream, though, which didn't come with my dessert but was donated by another diner from her dessert.)

We went back to the friends' house where we'd left our car and talked some more. A very pleasant evening. We were quickly asleep at home. FFP did flip through the end of the game as recorded on the DVR. But Kansas played 'em even in the second half but, of course, still lost 66-14. [Ed. Note: A&M lost, too, by six points to the barely there OU team (quite a comedown from their former glory that is). This sets up UT-A&M, last game for an undefeated UT team that must be a several touchdown favorite. How cool is that? What if A&M could win? "Don't even think it," Orange fans cry. But, I am. I'm tuning in the Friday after Thanksgiving looking for an upset. But, yeah, unlikely I know.]

OK, so if you go through the day being totally useless, I think that you have to look at attitude. If you go to sleep, happy that the sheets are clean, that you've had a little exercise, good food (discounting the nachos), nice wine and good conversations then who cares if you drifted through your day, mostly useless. I went to sleep happy. I'll probably wake up happy. There you go.